While the late 90’s saw Chapin-Carpenter as a mainstream country/folk artist, her last album was a return to the artist she started out as, an intelligent and literate acoustic based singer/songwriter. ‘The Calling’ continues this theme and is an album with both a political and personal edge and she addresses many contemporary issues over the course of the 13 songs.
She uses the same musicians and producer as her previous album, but this disc is lyrically deeper and as a result feels like a more substantial piece of work.
Her songs take on many issues, ‘On with the Song’ addresses the public trials the Dixie Chicks went through following their political comments; ‘Houston’ is a poetic and powerful piece that tackles the evacuation in the shadow of hurricane Katrina; and ‘Why Shouldn’t We’ is a clear political comment on the quality and standards of those in office. This topicality is mixed with more timeless songwriting subjects and across the whole album she shows she’s a writer equally at home with both personal and introspective as she is at dealing with wider issues.
John Jennings is, as ever, one of the musicians involved on this album and she moves easily from quiet acoustic pieces through to rockier songs with ease.
‘The Calling’ is Chapin-Carpenter’s strongest album for many years (probably since ‘Shooting Straight in the Dark’) and it’s possibly no coincidence that it comes with a move from a major label to an independent; this is an excellent folk/country album that is instantly accessible and full of depth.

Track listing
1 The Calling
2 We're All Right
3 Twilight
4 It Must Have Happened
5 On and On it Goes
6 Your Life Story
7 Houston
8 Leaving Song
9 On with the Song
10 Closer and Closer Apart
11 Here I Am
12 Why Shouldn't We
13 Bright Morning Star

£13.49